Posted 9th November 2009 | 5 Comments

FCC problems return on Thameslink route

Thameslink trains are being cancelled, delayed or short-formed, as a drivers' ban on rest day working and overtime continues at First Capital Connect.

Drivers are understood to be protesting over a proposed two-year pay deal which includes a 0% pay rise in April 2009. There were almost no Great Northern services on Remembrance Sunday, because the FCC drivers on that route declined to volunteer for Sunday shifts.

The disruption is now in its third week. Pay talks are continuing over a proposed deal which would mean no increase in April this year, but a rise of RPI+1% or 3%, whichever is the greater, in April 2010.

First Capital Connect said it was 'disappointed' that it could not provide a Great Northern service on Remembrance Sunday, and provided bus connections to stations on other routes nearby.

The Monday morning service on Thameslink was bearing the brunt of the problems, with a number of cancellations occurring. Other trains were delayed by up to 25 minutes or ran with four cars rather than eight. Great Northern services appeared to be less seriously affected.

Reader Comments:

Views expressed in submitted comments are that of the author, and not necessarily shared by Railnews.

  • YORKIE BOY, Northampton

    Snoball, there is no question of anybody being made redundant if it means getting a pay rise, facts are facts FCC have made money out of the franchise, not as much as they would have hoped for and thats probably down to the bean counters being unrealistic and i'll accept people have taken pay cuts in other industries,also the very people who got us into this recession in the first place (bankers) are at present awarding themselves huge bonuses on top of big salaries. All FCC employees have worked bloody hard so the company can get to where it is now and for no reward. Finally nobody is being held to ransom,the only thing drivers are doing is not working overtime which is optional on all train companies.

  • Chiltern Commuter, London

    Snoball, The new thameslink stock will have automatic train operation, however will only be put to use between St Pancras - London Bridge/ Elephant & Castle the parts of the line beyond this point will require the driver to take over for safety reasons from what I understand!
    A.T.O is where a train can control itself, but the system can only go so fast (I believe the maximum speed is 50mph) in addition, not all A.T.O system are 100% safe, they're not imune from failure.
    Fully automated train are more likely to be introduced on the underground, than on National Rail.
    Even so this could be another 40+ years yet in realistic terms.

    They should not have to work overtime to satisfy the bosses.

  • Rocky, wanstead

    Why should someone be forced to work a day off ???. Would you like to be forced in to working overtime. Does this mean the drivers should not get their quality time off, and what happens if there is a accident, the press will soon come down and say "well if the driver took his quality time off, then maybe he would not be so tired and the accident may not of happened". What FCC should do, if they can't cover the jobs then employ more people, there are plenty of freight drivers losing their jobs at the moment, they are experienced drivers and also may cover the same driving routes. Everything boils down to money and you will find that FCC do not want to spend any, but in the mean time, it's the drivers that get the bad press.

  • Snoball, London

    I think its an absolute discrace, in the current ecomonic climate where others are accepting pay cuts or being made redundant...you have this bunch holding everyone to ransom.
    The sooner automated trains come online the better.

  • Llion, Cardiff

    I recon the drivers should work. I think they should be gald they got a job to be honest, I do agree with them complaining about the pay dispute, but the compamy will probably consider getting new drivers, maybe form abroad, or the unthinkabe will hapen, the trains will be Automatic, a total disaster that would be if u ask me, lets just hope it's at leat 200 years till this gets put into heavy rail trains, I understand that ATO is used, but the driver is still required, and I supose it is much easyer and economical to use a driver rather than a computer as u dont know what a computer will do next.